The ethnic cleansing by the British of an entire small population and culture – the Chagos Islanders – is probably the most despicable act by Britain of my lifetime. As if the Iraq War and Extraordinary Rendition were not enough, New Labour’s moral dereliction – or more properly evil – was confirmed by the breathtaking cynicism of David Miliband’s proclamation of a Marine Protected Zone around the islands, designed to protect the American base on Diego Garcia and make it impossible for the Chagos Islanders to return to their living as native fishermen, and keep away any eyes that might see the secret prison inmates.
Extraordinarily and to their eternal shame, a number of prominent British environmentalists and conservationists lent their support to the Diego Garcia marine protected zone. These purblind fools, obsessed with a single cause and blind to wider policy and justice, are in the same category as the ridiculous “feminists” who were co-opted by the neo-conservatives agents (be they propaganda media or secret service or both) to frustrate the aims of Julian Assange and Tommy Sheridan.
In truth, if colonial conquest and force majeure are legitimate grounds of sovereignty, and if extermination of a population can wipe out the legal right to self-determination, then in international law Britain has the right to Diego Garcia and to give it as tribute to their US overlords. But if international law has any relationship of any kind to principles of justice, then Britain should not be permitted to reap the dubious benefit of genocide. What international law actually is in the neo-conservative era is the real question before the UN tribunal now looking at the Diego Garcia question.
The UK is represented by Sir Michael Wood. He is the man who overruled my objection inside the FCO to the use of “intelligence” gained from torture, and argued that British cooperation with extraordinary rendition was legal.
If anybody in Scotland can read through this and read through the links, and does not want to take the chance to leave the stinking cesspit of international shame that is the United Kingdom, they are severely deficient in moral sense.
“Mr Straves” for example, the top 5-star reviewer, says he’s “read quite a bit on conspiracy theories”,but curiously his 8 pages of Amazon reviews don’t include anything on this topic.
Not true he reviewed “How to spot a histrionic personality”
‘None of the above’ began ‘life’ as a glorious awareness that all mainstream political parties have exactly the same agenda; just key notes in a perpetual hymn orchestrated by the same conductor. It was the fourth tick-box ‘photoshopped’ on a plebiscite ballot ticket. NOTA is a first step; one of many baby steps needed to release humanity away from an event horizon of chaos and collapse.
Subjectively, I myself believe Scottish independence might be a trigger for this metamorphosis; like cutting the ‘eye’ out of a completely edible potato one might prepare for a number of interesting options.
A potato on it’s own leaves little to prepare once the skin or shell is removed and the bad bits gouged out. Collectively we can achieve anything, the power of intention works that way.
Scottish independence, a NOTA Party and crucially, imperatively a strong community tabloid, magazine, paper, daily, rag or scandal sheet that subliminally and physically injects reason, sanity and knowledge into the pot.
‘If you take the view that any attempt to make things better is doomed to failure, I can’t see why you bother to continue living.’ is a heart-breaking truth which touches me at this time; powerful enough for ‘Anon’ to repeat and load his pen.
Can it also touch you?
Tony,
I’m sure Gail Tverberg will love you calling her a “young lady”!
Gail is a mathematician (Qualified Actuary), a former senior editor of the Oil Drum and has probably about as gloomy an outlook as you can get. Gail is expecting the energy and financial systems to crash terminally within the next few years. She might be right.
Ultimately Gail believes the energy collapse is so close now that nothing bar a miracle can save us.The “good” news is that it saves the planet from the worst of climate change as CO2 emissions start to fall permanently in the relatively near future.
See Fig 3 chart of future primary energy production at http://ourfiniteworld.com/2014/04/11/oil-limits-and-climate-change-how-they-fit-together/
Recent brief youtube clip of Tverberg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MN2KiEjvIk
@ Mary 4:07
The WWF is a fascinating case study in how the deep state co-opts ‘progressive’ causes. When you understand its origins it is no surprise whatever that it is 100% behind the deception that is Britain’s Chagos Islands Ramscar Convention site, or that its principle officers are vetted even more closely than – for example – a BBC current affairs department head.
This is a very brief intro
For an in-depth investigation into its history and real purposes see this ISGP article. Hint, environmental and wildlife preservation – just like ‘Humanitarian intervention’ – no more than a wonderful method of blind-siding the well-meaning but infinitely gullible public.
The old WWF/SAS deep state conspiracy holds a special place in my heart because it was the subject of the very first conspiracy web page I saw on the internet. It had an Africa map image with stars showing the coincidence of WWF programmes and SAS operations. I think it had a purple background colour. Ground breaking stuff.
The boring truth is the workings of finance, arms and imperialism are not hidden away in secret societies. They are out in the open, on the FTSE 100 for example.
The good news is if you want to usefully oppose the military finance government corporate royal imperialist alliance or whatever you want to call it, you can join others in taking real action. It does take a bit more effort than blowing hot air out of your arse on the internet.
Anon
21 Apr, 2014 – 3:13 pm
“I see some hope in the launch of the new party, NOTA, None Of The Above.”
“I thought I’d have some fun trying to glean the political leanings of this supposedly non-aligned party. No surprises really, which makes me wonder, why none of the above when you have so many to choose from?”
Anon, where did you get all that information from?
Do you have links to back-up your statement?
If not, stop telling lies!!!
Doug Scorgie
“Anon, where did you get all that information from?
Do you have links to back-up your statement?
If not, stop telling lies!!!”
_______________
You are in need (again) of a lesson in logic, Doug – or perhaps I am.
You’re saying that if someone fails to provide links to back up a statement, then that statement is a lie.
Accordingly and by that “logic”, if I claimed the earth revolves round the sun but neglected to furnish you with links, my claim would be a lie. But it is the truth.
Grateful if you could tease out your post for us in greater detail (links unnecessary). Thanks!
“I would argue you can commit the genocide without actively killing the people, just causing them to die”
Yeah, it’s called s-o-c-i-a-l-i-s-m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Shafarevich
I once went to a WWF dinner in Lagos with Prince Philip at which the menu consisted entirely of endangered species. I recall West African Porcupine was the starter. This is perfectly true. I thought at the time it was just some grotesque misunderstanding by the Nigerian hosts, and have often told the story in jest. It didn’t occur to me there might be something sinister about the WWF. Porcupine, incidentally, is pretty unpleasant tasting meat and very difficult to gouge out from the quills. These are deeply embedded which led me to wonder how on earth it can fire them. Presumably its more obvious before its cooked.
I can’t complain it’s been a boring life….
Habbabkuk (La vita è bella) !
21 Apr, 2014 – 6:41 pm
“You are in need (again) of a lesson in logic, Doug – or perhaps I am.”
Not me Habbabkuk but you yes.
“You’re saying that if someone fails to provide links to back up a statement, then that statement is a lie.”
No I’m not I didn’t say it was a lie but a position that needs to be backed-up.
If someone makes a statement claiming it to be true they need to back their position with references etc so that view can be tested.
“Accordingly and by that “logic”, if I claimed the earth revolves round the sun but neglected to furnish you with links, my claim would be a lie. But it is the truth.”
Sorry Habbakuk you are a Logic 101 failure.
If you claimed the sun revolves round the earth I would expect you to back-up that statement and so would everyone else.
Anyway Habbabkuk why do you continually answer on behalf of other trolls on this blog?
You are pathetic.
What information, Doug? Why would you vote NOTA when you have so many parties to choose from?
Did P Philip drop any clangers Craig? Do tell.
Googling WWF produces pages of links like adopt an elephant, adopt this animal, adopt that animal, conservation, climate change, endangered species conservation, Twitter, Facebook, Pininterest, Just Giving…. all with links to their website. Even a joint campaign with Whiskas cat food to protect tigers! And the money comes rolling in. Are there any more elephants, tigers on the planet? No the reverse is true. A con.
Thank goodness for Wikipedia for some truths. I thought the first two items under ‘Criticism’ were rather droll – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Fund_for_Nature#Criticism
Criticism
WWF has been accused by a number of environmental groups and campaigners, such as Corporate Watch and PR Watch of being too close to businesses to campaign objectively. WWF claims partnering with companies such as Coca-Cola, Lafarge and IKEA will reduce their impact on the environment.[23] WWF received €56 million (US$80 million) from corporations in 2010 (an 8% increase in support from corporations compared to 2009), accounting for 11% of total revenue for the year.
Project Lock
In 1988, Prince Bernhard, former president of the WWF, sold paintings for GBP700,000 to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund. The money was deposited in a Swiss WWF bank account. In 1989 Charles de Haes, director-general of the WWF, transferred GBP500,000 back to Bernhard, for what De Haes called a “private project”. In 1991, it was revealed that Prince Bernhard had used the money for an operation called Project Lock to hire KAS International, owned by SAS founder David Stirling, to use mercenaries—mostly British—to fight poachers in nature reserves.
Followed by a para on the hunting activities of the Spanish and British royals.
“Didn’t pro-Putin, anti-Iraq, Syria, and Libya wars Nigel Farage go up to Scotland and offer a non-Neocon, non EU vision? And what was the reaction?”
ICM poll in today’s Scotsman put UKIP at 10% in Scotland and challenging for a Scottish seat in European Parliament.
” New Labour’s moral dereliction – or more properly evil – was confirmed by the breathtaking cynicism of David Miliband’s proclamation of a Marine Protected Zone around the islands, designed to protect the American base on Diego Garcia and make it impossible for the Chagos Islanders to return to their living as native fishermen, and keep away any eyes that might see the secret prison inmates.”
Don’t forget the Prime Minister at the time, he must shoulder most of the blame.
“The UK is represented by Sir Michael Wood. He is the man who overruled my objection inside the FCO to the use of “intelligence” gained from torture, and argued that British cooperation with extraordinary rendition was legal.”
Michael Wood is a lawyer, they have them in Scotland too. Lawyers don’t have feelings of right and wrong, they don’t use their own judgements, the only thing they do is interpret the law whether they agree with it or not.
That is why in 2003 Sir Michael Wood advised Tony Blair, born in Glasgow BTW, that the Iraq war would be illegal.
Well I can honestly say that Voodoo Histories is truly dreadful and one of the worst books of that genre I have ever read.
I was shocked to see the +ve reviews of it on Amazon and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see the better ones (>1 star) are fabricated.
Moreover, what struck me reading it was that it must have been nearly rejected by the publisher at the last minute. It seems clear that the entire first section, which is supposedly an overview, is bolted on to the rest of the book as an afterthought – no doubt due to the arbitrary and meaningless nature of the “conspiracy” examples he selected. Even though there is no coherent thesis in the book about what such theories represent, or their relevance. Just snide bollocks from start to finish.
Whatever Aaronovitch’s journalistic skills (fwiw I think he’s a smug, talentless creep) he certainly can’t sustain his smarm over booklength work.
Shame Craig felt the need to drag his delusions about independence into this. He seems to think Scotland can act like some middle-aged hippy and run away from its responsibilities.
The crimes of British imperialism are not the exclusive responsibility of the English. Proportionately speaking, the Scots have been, and still are, more culpable.
If Scotland goes independent they won’t leave the UK. They’ll split it in two, and they’ll take their half of the guilt with them.
To be cynical is not the same as to be defeatist. To believe that Scotland is somehow essentially different and less likely to repeat our collective misdeeds is to forget the role Scots played in the Empire. We are all capable of bad things. America, the New Atlantis, broke free with very coherent and reasoned ideals, but what happened. It is naive to believe that to run away and set up a new country will create better prospects than to work with what we have got. Scottish, Welsh, Irish are not inherently more moral than English. We, the celtic fringes may have had a bad deal over the centuries, but that doesn’t make us inherently better people or less likely to turn a a blind eye, or “do a Diego Garcia”.
Generally on the Vote I can’t help but agree with Hitchens, and at the same time wonder how a No vote will bruise Scotland’s confidence.
Foolish Dissenter
I don’t believe for a moment Scotland would have invaded Iraq. It is not different then? So I am imagining free NHS prescriptions, free university tuition, free elderly care? Scotland has very different political attitudes to England which are quite capable of objective measurement – one of which is a twenty point lead in support for EU membership, as opposed to an even split in England. Another one is the absence of Tory MPs.
You are well named.
‘If anybody in Scotland can read through this and read through the links, and does not want to take the chance to leave the stinking cesspit of international shame that is the United Kingdom, they are severely deficient in moral sense.’
I think the stinking cesspit has penetrated Scotland too deeply already. Salmond and his Scottish SNP Government are doing what the UK government wants done in the Megrahi/Lockerbie issue. Salmond has the power to hold an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the performance of the Scottish criminal justice system. The flaws in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication are well documented in the public domain.
Despite constant pressure Salmond has done nothing.
“I don’t believe for a moment Scotland would have invaded Iraq. It is not different then? So I am imagining free NHS prescriptions, free university tuition, free elderly care? Scotland has very different political attitudes to England which are quite capable of objective measurement – one of which is a twenty point lead in support for EU membership, as opposed to an even split in England. Another one is the absence of Tory MPs.”
Hang on a tick, it was Blair who misled Parliament into invading Iraq, the leader of the Conservatives was Iain Duncan Smith.
The political attitudes of the SNP is to get independence at any cost, just as the political attitudes of parties is to get into government. What happens after they get into power is usually completely different, you were a Liberal, you should know that.
If anybody in Scotland can read through this and read through the links, and does not want to take the chance to leave the stinking cesspit of international shame that is the United Kingdom, they are severely deficient in moral sense.
The manager of Oasis Alan McGee recently said Scots would need to be mentally ill to reject independence.
The result of Scotland’s referendum isn’t going to be close.
Doug Scorgie (20h43)
Do you know the expression “when in a hole, stop digging”? Perhaps not….
1/. “You’re saying that if someone fails to provide links to back up a statement, then that statement is a lie.”
No I’m not I didn’t say it was a lie but a position that needs to be backed-up.
______________________
Let me remind you of what you did say to Anon, which was the following:
“Do you have links to back-up your statement?If not, stop telling lies!!!”
In other words, if you don’t provide links, you’re lying. Crystal clear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2/. “Accordingly and by that “logic”, if I claimed the earth revolves round the sun but neglected to furnish you with links, my claim would be a lie. But it is the truth.”
Sorry Habbakuk you are a Logic 101 failure.
If you claimed the sun revolves round the earth I would expect you to back-up that statement and so would everyone else.”
___________________
This response is logically flawed on two counts.
Firstly, you are not, it seems, asking me for links to back up my claim that the earth revolves round the sun. Why not? Your failure to ask for links appears in contradiction to your general belief that claims made without providing links are false. On the other hand, you would ask me for links if I were to claim that the sun revolves round the earth – why here and not in the other case?
It is clear that your point of view has nothing to do with logic and everything to do with whether you agree with a poster or not.If you do, you don’t ask for links, if you don’t, you do ask for links. Fair enough, but it’s no good claiming that this is logical or consistent.
3/. “Anyway Habbabkuk why do you continually answer on behalf of other trolls on this blog?”
______________________
Why not, Doug? Do you think that discussions here should be conducted exclusively on a one-on-one basis, with third parties having to seek permission to speak?
” America, the New Atlantis, broke free with very coherent and reasoned ideals, but what happened.”
There’s a line from Godfather; “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in”
Maverick governments, if that’s what some imagines Scotland would be, tend to be ostracized for their own good. The Ingroup is succored, the outgroup can go fish. It’s standard operating procedure.
It’s a big club and that want everyone on the same page.
“The result of Scotland’s referendum isn’t going to be close.”
Last I saw the bookies were offering 5 to 2.
Only poll I consider reliable.
I’m puzzled at your seeming inconsistency between the Chagos Islands and Palestine. In the past you have resigned yourself to accepting the occupation and theft of Palestinian land. But not here with the Chagos Islands. Why?
I’ll offer 20 quid to any five Murrayistas who wish to take it that Scots vote No.
Craig
“So I am imagining free NHS prescriptions, free university tuition, free elderly care?”
Free? What planet are you living on?
AlcAnon/Squonk
21 Apr, 2014 – 4:59 ….
Yeh Peak Oil scared me shitless for about a week when I first came across the subject about 12 years ago…It didn’t scared me for my children’s and maybe even their Grandchildren’s lives…
But the main problem with Peak Oil – is That Michael C Ruppert Blew His Own Brains Out about 10 days ago – and Dave McGowan of The Center of an Informed America Is Still Alive…so far as I know…You should Read what he wrote..about The Boston Bombing. Dave McGowan even Blew The Northern Irish Journalisy away – and He is Really Good..He’s on Sott …but maybe he never did photography at school
Mark Golding remains by far the most eloquent, and informative poster here…Don’t worry – I only do about 10 posts a year on Craig Murray’s website…I do however Read a lot…some of you guys are very clever and work really hard to try and work out what is really going on, and ask questions – about what we can do about it…So far, no one has come up with any good answers except Putin…
He just looks at them – and sits back…
No You Can’t Do That…
and the neocons dissolve into fascist insanity
What’s his first name…This Putin bloke…Russia’s President ain’t he…???
Oh Dear.
Vicky Nuland You Said The Wrong Thing. That was Not Polite.
Oil is not a fossil fuel.
Tony
My Wife and I were again accused today of being Swedish….I said No Love – we are From Lancashire – We are Speaking English…She then asks me – do You Understand The Scottish Then???…No except when They Play The Bag Pipes…as He Did Live in The Pub Today…Us English Screamed for More.
Tony